Walls And Bridges

I found myself reflecting on this amazing little story from Elton John’s new autobiography this morning. A sentimental moment involving the making of John Lennon’s 1974 LP ‘Walls and Bridges’. 

The pop star pair were besties, young men who had both been catapulted into the cultural stratosphere in their twenties yet still maintained an incredible lust for life. 

As Elton John laid down instrumentals and vocals on the upcoming single ‘Whatever Gets You Thru The Night’ he made a bet with the Liverpudlian titan. If the single made it to number one, Lennon had to break his self-imposed exile from live shows by accompanying Elton onstage during the New York leg of his North American tour. 

Lennon, seemingly unimpressed with his own record, shook on it only to find himself backstage a few months later (the single sailed to the top the pops).

The former Beatles frontman was a nervous train-wreck before the show, so much so that he brought up his dinner before joining Elton and the band onstage that night. 

I couldn’t believe John Lennon, a man that had spent most of his adult life in the public eye, could suffer a case of stage fright. Yet he did all the same. 

It might seem like your dreams are unassailable. That they involve far too much sacrifice and will leave you standing hat in hand with egg all over your face. 

But deep down we know this fear is where we need to be. It’s how we find our way home.

Xo